Let kindness be the first thing they don't understand
“Solen min, det er ikke en eneste dag jeg ikke ser etter deg når jeg våkner. Ta vare på meg og gi meg styrke i dag. Og hvis jeg faller ... så ses vi snar”
Alaric rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he spoke his daily mantra, on reflex he stretches his hand out to the empty side of the bed. There was a moment, only a moment, each morning.. where he could pretend she was still there
In that absolute silence he puts himself back together, assembling the fractured parts of hope that remained after losing her.. it wasn’t much but it was enough to see the next step.
“Ok… on your feet”… His own voice breaking the silence
“Drengr… on… your…. Feet”!
With that final order Alaric swings his legs over the side of the bed and rises to his feet in slow careful motions, rolling and stretching his shoulders as he does. On autopilot he fills his small kettle and kindle the wood stove back to life, routines were important.. routines made a path that let you walk without thinking too much. This familiar pattern carries Drengr through his morning until finally he comes to stand before a large white board, covered in names and pictures of active supers within the doomed “Supe City”. At the top of the board there was only one picture, the cold lifeless eyes of Primal.. staring back from behind his iron mask.
For a moment it all comes back, the pain… the rage…seeing her dragged out like an animal to slaughter. The cup in Drengr’s hand cracks, then shatters completely. If Drengr notices the hot liquid pouring over his fingers there is nothing to show it on his face. Casually he tosses it into a nearby bin, the ceramic bits clinking against its fallen brethren already occupying that space.
Taking a moment to review his map one last time, Drengr pulls on his clothes and places a small ear piece into place. “Dispatch, Drengr is active and available for call. Could I request transport in to Zone 14-C?”
“Good Morning Drengr.. 14-C is deemed a team rated area. Can you confirm who will be joining you?”
“Dispatch, just me today. I am not planning any active engagement”
“Please standby Drengr, I am seeking authorization”
Alaric knew this was skirting the territory our outright lying but he didn’t have time to dwell on it, either he did it or she would and he would be damned if he would let her share a headstone with her sister
“Approved Drengr, please report in at regular intervals”
“I will Dispatch, thank you”
A short while later Alaric stepped out on to the ragged asphalt of Zone 14-C.. or as the few Heroes who were operating in this area called it, the Grindhouse. Adopting a “don’t try it” pose he makes his way down past a burned out Sharper Image and onto the roof of what was once a small office block. Before making his way up the fire escape he stops to check the wall markings for any messages from the other operatives. It doesn’t take long to find the Half Moon symbol that means wildhunt was seen in the area in the last few days. Nodding to himself he continues on to the rusty chair and tables that had been set out, taking the most solid looking before throwing his eyes out on the hell that was 14-C
“Let kindness be the first thing they don’t understand”, Alaric says the words as a sort of silent prayer for how far this place has fallen. If he was being very honest with himself he didn’t think anyone here would understand Kindness, regardless of who it came from.. If Kindness wouldn’t get the job done, then a firmer lesson would be required
It didn’t take long… it never did
The screams brought Alaric back from a frozen landscape, a hammer in his hand.. shattering ice with massive swings. Breaking himself free from drowning, as Lifeline guided him back
Jumping up to his feet he sought out the sound of distress, he didn’t have to look all that hard as in 14-C nobody worried with stealth over much. A young man, maybe 16, was being bound and restrained by 3 Supers.. this told Alaric all he needed to know, if they wanted him whole and alive then this kid had a far darker destiny waiting for him. Taking only a moment to gauge the distance, Alaric moves back about 20 paces before breaking in to a dead run. At the edge of the ceiling his places his foot and launches himself out in to the air, plummeting to the ground. The already troubled asphalt shatters as 9ft of armour lands heavily, one knee dipping slightly to absorb the impact, and Drengr begins his steady advance.
The gunshot sound of his landing causes the three supers to look up in surprise, but not horror.. these were no ordinary mooks who ran at the first sight of danger. With feral smiles and predatory glares they moved immediately to flank the new comer. The leader, a lean woman with elongated features, sauntered forward with atavistic confidence
“Too Bold Hammertime, far too bold… your incursions have been tolerated up until now but we have orders.. we see you around here and we gots to make an example”
Her two allies break left and right, waiting for the right time to move in. If Drengr is phased by this, nothing gives it away. A deep modulated voice comes from within his massive helm
“Pursuant to the rights offered to you under the DVA surrender protocols I am willing to give you the chance to surrender without Violence. You will face a trial and be sentenced for your crimes, you will be treated with all dignity and respect up until such a time you are handed over for sentencing”
All three of the would be attackers throw back their heads and laugh, the leader wipes away acidic green tears of mirth and barks back
“That is fucking adorable… like… so adorable… well thankyou Drengr but no, we wont be surrendering today”
There is only the smallest change in Drengr’s footing, but if you knew what look for you would know it meant everything
“If you do not consent to peaceful reconciliation then by the authority granted to me by the DVA I will now pursue lethal takedown measures”
The lead supe flicks a forked tongue in a languid, teasing manner.. “Now you are talking my language”.
As if moving like one creature, they attack.
The first to arrive is the shorter of the 3, but packed with muscle. The supe feints high but drives hard into Drengrs knees, driving him to the ground. A second later the other male super, covered in small quills and barbs, lands on his back and begins raking at his armour with diamond hard claws. The leader arrives last, the delay caused by the time she took to shift into a large scale human/serpent hybrid. On arrival she spits a brown stick liquid into Drengr’s helm, the metal hissing under the corrosive effect
Deep inside the light forged armour, Alaric calmed his breathing. He was injured, but in here he could be calm.. the battle was out there, not in here.. first he has to master this fight. Loud scraps and hisses reverberated throughout his defenses while he counted back from 5…
4…. Breathing calming, mind clearing
3….. Mind is at peace…
2…. Her smile… her smile in the morning before they got up, her smile that usually preceded a plea for a coffee…
1….. Her voice..
“Get up Drengr, on your feet”… the voice wasn’t his, but it came from deep within. And it was the sun in the sky
Outside, a million miles from where Alaric was… the lead attacker hesitates..
“Why the fuck isn’t he fighting back”
That hesitation was ill advised
With a roar Drengr throws out his arms, scattering the two attackers who were latched on to him and in the same motion snatches the forked tongue and rips it clean from the supes head. Her scream fill the air as venom pours wildly down her chin. Following on from the motion Drengr raises his hand, summoning a giant Warhammer which is glowing with brilliant light.. The aura of brightness driving back the attackers, ever so slightly. Using the window Drengr plants his feet, creating space.
“UUCKIN KIIL IMMM” roars the leader, words distorted by the ragged wound in her mouth. As one the two flankers charge. In a practiced motion Drengr drops one shoulder and rolls the attacker over, using his own momentum. Immediately after he executes a low swing of his hammer which rises like a comet, connecting with the sternum of the other flanker. In an explosion of organs, bones and blood the supe is brought down.
“Where is Primal”
Drengr hisses the words and he boots the downed flanker across the ground
“WHERE IS HE”
Another powerful kick lifts the supe off the ground and sends him 5 feet in the air, the second kick was too much.. it was sloppy.. the lead supe pounces. Inhumanly strong blows rain down on his face over and over and over. Each knocking him out of focus. Deep within his helm he can barely make out the madness of her scream as super strong blows crack his armour apart
CRACK
“Alaric you are literally a mountain! My dad is a little old man who manages a hotel, this is silly!! Come out of the bathroom and stop fussing”
CRACK
“You were going to walk away.. and not even kiss me! What sort of Viking does that!! I name you Ragnar the Nerd”
CRACK
“I know you wanted to be in the intramurals so badly baby.. I know… but they don’t make you a hero… your heart, that’s what makes you a hero.. My hero! So less moping and more taking me to dinner”
CRACK
“Is… oh my god is that a ring… are you… Are you propos… YES!!! OH MY GOD YES!!! YES TIMES A THOUSAND.. Get off your knee and kiss me!! ON YOUR FEET DRENGR!
The last punch lands in his hand
“That’s enough”
With a roar Drengr yanks the attacker forward to meet his forehead, and then he does it again for punctuation. Not letting go he rises to his feet, tossing his hammer to one side. Taking a quick step he moves into a rising knee that breaks the attackers sternum, silencing the screaming. For a moment.. that lasted a lifetime they lock eyes.. reptilian eyes stare past the crack in the visor and in to the dark eyes beneath.. and in that moment she knew, she knew this was where it ends
In a flare of light a spear is formed and driven through the supe, impaling her to the ground. With a shaky hand Drengr touches his ear
“Dispatch… two hostile supes ready for collection at my location. One requiring emergency healing. One fatality”
While he waited he pats down a pocket and produces a phone from her pocket.
“Thank you”
And he turns and leaves
